U.S. patent application number 11/299256 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for method for processing mail.
This patent application is currently assigned to Deutsche Post AG. Invention is credited to Josef Ehrat, Werner Halder, Karl-Josef Kurtz, Heinz Pechtl, Norbert Weber.
Application Number | 20060180520 11/299256 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32748324 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060180520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ehrat; Josef ; et
al. |
August 17, 2006 |
Method for processing mail
Abstract
A method for processing mail, wherein a plurality of mailing
items inserted into insertion places are collected and subsequently
transported in a container to postal centers where they are sorted
in sorting devices according to postal categories. The invention is
characterized in that the mail is placed in transport containers
which are transported to unloading areas in postal centers. When
the transport container is filled and/or during the transportation
of the container to the postal centers, random partial pre-sorting
of mail takes place according to postal categories so that, when,
the mail is removed from the containers at the unloading areas, it
is in the form of piles formed by the predetermined pre-sorting
method and sorted according to the postal categories, whereupon it
is guided to subsequent processing stations according to said
postal categories.
Inventors: |
Ehrat; Josef; (Muenchen,
DE) ; Halder; Werner; (Waldburg, DE) ; Kurtz;
Karl-Josef; (Brunnthal, DE) ; Pechtl; Heinz;
(Kuemmersbruck, DE) ; Weber; Norbert; (Puchheim,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Deutsche Post AG
Bonn
DE
|
Family ID: |
32748324 |
Appl. No.: |
11/299256 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/DE04/01162 |
Jun 7, 2004 |
|
|
|
11299256 |
Dec 9, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/584 ;
209/900 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B07C 1/12 20130101; Y10S
209/903 20130101; Y10S 209/90 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
209/584 ;
209/900 |
International
Class: |
B07C 5/00 20060101
B07C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2003 |
DE |
103 26 495.7 |
Claims
1. A method for processing mailpieces, comprising the steps of
collecting a plurality of mailpieces that have been dropped into
mail drop boxes; transporting the mailpieces in transportation
containers to postal centers; sorting the mailpieces in the postal
centers with sorting devices, filling the mailpieces into the
transportation containers, transporting the filled transportation
containers to unloading stations in the postal centers, carrying
out presorting according to postal categories partially and
coincidentally during at least one of the filling and transport of
the transportation containers to the postal center, removing the
mailpieces from the transportation containers at the unloading
stations utilizing said presorting, a manipulation arm reaching
into a transportation container that is located in the area of the
unloading station immediately after a stack of mailpieces of the
same postal category has been recognized, the manipulation are
removing from the transportation container the previously
recognized stack of mailpieces of the same postal category, the
manipulation are dropping the stack of mailpieces onto a conveyor
belt that is located in the area of the unloading station, and
conveying the mailpieces to subsequent processing stations as a
function of the postal category.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising transporting the mailpieces in
essentially box-shaped transportation containers.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising setting up at least some of
the transportation containers in drop-off places where, at least
from one side, the mailpieces can be dropped off in a way that
promotes an essentially horizontal position.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising conveying at least some of the
transportation containers in a transporter to mailers of mailpieces
so that, in the area of the mailer of mailpieces, the mailpieces
can be dropped essentially horizontally into the transportation
containers.
5. The method of claim 1, comprising placing at least some of the
transportation containers into mailboxes in such a way that
mailpieces dropped into the mailboxes end up directly in the
transportation containers.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising filing at least some of the
transportation containers by emptying collecting containers located
in mailboxes.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising taking at least some of the
transportation containers directly to the unloading stations.
8. The method of claims 1, comprising taking at least some of the
transportation containers to the unloading stations by a conveyor
section.
9. The method of claim 1, comprising conveying at least some of the
transportation containers to the unloading stations
intermittently.
10. The method of claim 1, comprising conveying the transportation
containers to the unloading stations in such a way that, at least
at times, at least two transportation containers are located in the
area of an unloading station.
11. The method of claim 1, comprising removing stacks of mailpieces
of different postal categories from the transportation containers,
and, subsequently tipping out mailpieces of one postal category
remaining in the transportation containers from the transportation
containers.
12. The method of claim 1, comprising removing individual
mailpieces from the transportation containers by a partial tipping
of the transportation containers, and, subsequently tipping out
stacks of mailpieces of different postal categories from the
transportation containers.
13. The method of claim 1, comprising recognizing stacks of
mailpieces by at least one optical detector means.
14. The method of claim 1, comprising in at least some of the
unloading stations removing the mailpieces from the transportation
containers by a robot.
15. The method of claim 1, comprising feeding mailpieces of at
least one of the postal categories to a subsequent processing
station by at least one conveyor belt.
16. The method of claim 15, comprising at least partially
singulating the mailpieces while they are being transported on the
conveyor belt.
17. The method of claim 15, comprising canceling at least some of
the mailpieces while they are being transported on the conveyor
belt.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of international application
PCT/D2004/001162 filed Jun. 7, 2004, the entire disclosure of which
is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a method for processing mailpieces
that have been dropped into mail drop boxes, whereby a plurality of
mailpieces are collected and then transported in transportation
containers to postal centers and are sorted in the postal centers
by means of sorting devices according to postal categories.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Technology
[0005] Methods of this generic type are being used by postal
service providers worldwide for millions of letters daily.
[0006] One prior-art method of this type is known from EP 1 072 328
A2. This method involves sorting mailpieces during their
transportation on conveyor belts according to postal categories.
During the transportation of the mailpieces on the conveyor belt,
the weight and the dimensions of the mailpieces are ascertained.
Subsequently, on the basis of the determined weight and the
determined dimensions, the mailpieces are classified in postal
categories and systematically ejected from the area of the conveyor
belt.
[0007] FR 2 637 823 relates to a device for automatically sorting
envelopes with which envelopes of various formats are delivered in
a container, aligned in a special manner, and are then removed from
the container in groups and fed to the sorting device. After a
singulation step, the size of the envelopes is determined by means
of specially arranged light barriers and the envelopes are diverted
into different containers on the basis of their size.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,780 describes a singulation and sorting
system with which the mailpieces are first placed into an input
hopper and then separated by an inclined conveyor. Via a
controllable receiving station, the mailpieces then reach one of
several singulation sections which are followed by a device in
which photocells ascertain the dimensions of the mailpieces.
Subsequently, the mailpieces are diverted and stacked according to
their dimensions.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,017 discloses a device for sorting
mailpieces with which the mailpieces, sorted according to address,
are diverted into buffer receptacles in which the mailpieces become
arranged in stacks. Once a buffer receptacle is filled, the
mailpieces are emptied in an output receptacle.
[0010] Moreover, EP 0 436 521 A2 describes a method and a device
for identifying mailpieces in order to mark "zip-code" segments in
stacks of mailpieces. Here, stacks of mailpieces are placed into a
hopper and then singulated. A reader then ascertains the "zip code"
and the mailpieces are provided with a first identification mark at
a certain position, which is changed when the "zip code" is
changed, and they are likewise provided with an identification mark
whose position is changed every time the first three digits of the
"zip code" changes. Subsequently, the mailpieces are stacked.
[0011] With the known methods of this type, the contents of the
transportation containers are tipped out, immediately placed onto
conveyor belts and ejected on the conveyor belts from a predefined
conveying sequence according to postal categories.
[0012] Methods are likewise known with which mailers of mailpieces
sort the mailpieces according to sorting criteria specified by the
particular postal service provider and then mail them according to
this sorting. The mail that has been presorted in this manner is
subsequently taken directly to an appropriate processing station
according to the complete presorting that was systematically
undertaken by the mailer.
[0013] Moreover, in the state of the art, several non-generic
product recognition systems are known. The prior-art product
recognition systems allow the recognition of objects preferably by
means of computer-aided optical scanning devices.
[0014] A known non-generic product recognition system is described
in European patent EP 0 685 814 B1 and in its German counterpart DE
695 18 947 T2. This known product recognition system allows the
identification, classification, evaluation and verification of
objects. By using computer systems that make evaluations on the
basis of target object images, it is possible to achieve teachable
object recognition and consequently to depict numerous objects.
This known non-generic method is especially well-suited for
distinguishing between various kinds of fruit.
[0015] Moreover, numerous automatic control systems for robots are
known in the state of the art.
[0016] A non-generic automatic control system with a
robot-controlled manipulation means is known from EP 0 251 441 B1
and in its German counterpart DE 37 88 596 T2. This known automatic
control system allows the guidance of a manipulation means as a
function of determined information. Its use in laboratory systems
is explained here by way of an application example for this
automatic control system.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The invention is provides a method that is suited for bulk
sorting of mailpieces according to postal categories at a high
processing speed in bulk operations in postal centers with minimal
processing effort.
[0018] According to the invention, a processing method is carried
out in such a way that the mailpieces are filled into the
transportation containers, the transportation containers filled
with the mailpieces are transported to unloading stations in the
postal centers, during the filling of the transportation containers
and/or during transport of the transportation containers to the
postal center, a partial presorting of the mailpieces according to
postal categories occurs, and subsequently, at the unloading
stations, the mailpieces are removed in stacks from the
transportation containers, utilizing the presorting according to
postal categories, and the mailpieces are conveyed to subsequent
processing stations as a function of the postal category.
[0019] The invention utilizes the surprising realization that an
essentially coincidence-based presorting occurs during the filling
and/or the transportation of mailpieces, so as to achieve a
systematic processing of the mailpieces, in that the mailpieces are
removed from the transportation containers according to the
resultant presorting and are subsequently brought to the processing
stations corresponding to the individual postal categories.
[0020] The mail drop boxes can be designed in many different ways.
These can be post office branches, or postal agencies as well as
mailboxes or receptacles in the area of customers of a postal
service provider.
[0021] Previously, it has been assumed in technical circles that
mailpieces are dropped into mailboxes completely at random and that
they are thoroughly mixed up by the subsequent transport and
handling procedures. In spite of handling several million letters
every year, so far, no person skilled in the art has become aware
of the fact that a presorting occurs through simple handling
procedures of the mailpieces, especially their filling into
transportation containers and the transport of the preferably
box-shaped transportation containers.
[0022] Based on the conviction firmly held in technical circles
that the mailpieces are unsorted, until now, mailpieces collected
in mailboxes have been tipped out directly onto conveyor belts at
the postal centers.
[0023] According to the invention, the mailpieces are removed from
the transportation containers in stacks corresponding to the
existing presorting, and the sorting effort is considerably
reduced.
[0024] The invention can be implemented with various transportation
containers. However, it is especially advantageous to use
box-shaped transportation containers.
[0025] It has been found that a presorting takes place, especially
when mailpieces are dropped into box-shaped transportation
containers as well as during the transport in box-shaped
transportation containers.
[0026] The nature of the partial presorting results from the
dropping of the mailpieces into the transportation containers, from
the structure of the mailpiece, from the transportation conditions
and from the relationship between the dimensions of the
transportation container and the mailpieces dropped into it.
[0027] In particular, partial presorting of the mailpieces results
if the mailpieces are transported predominantly while lying
flat.
[0028] The presorting procedures resulting from the transportation
enhance the partial presorting that results during the previous
filling of the mailpieces into the transportation containers.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least some of
the transportation containers are set up in drop-off places where,
at least from one side, the mailpieces can be dropped off in a way
that promotes an essentially horizontal position. This embodiment
of the method according to the invention allows a faster processing
of the mailpieces in the receiving stations.
[0030] The fundamentally desirable filling of mailpieces of
different postal categories into different transportation
containers--including the placement of the mailpieces in the
transportation containers in a vertical position that enhances this
complete arrangement--can thus be replaced by a much simpler and
faster filling of the transportation containers. This is associated
with a substantial reduction in time and effort at post offices or
other mail receiving stations such as postal agencies.
[0031] This handling for some of the transportation containers can
be combined at will with a suitable handling of other
transportation containers.
[0032] A measure that further improves the presorting of the
mailpieces according to the invention is characterized in that at
least some of the transportation containers are conveyed in
transporters means to mailers of mailpieces so that, in the area of
the mailer of mailpieces, the mailpieces can be dropped essentially
horizontally into the transportation containers.
[0033] Such handling is especially well-suited for collecting
mailpieces from postal customers. Fundamentally, such a pick-up
technique can be carried out for all postal customers, but it is
advantageous to implement this pick-up technique especially for
those customers who normally mail multiple mailpieces every
day.
[0034] Mailing methods used so far required the mailers to
tediously presort the mailpieces themselves according to postal
categories and other sorting criteria or else required the employee
of the particular postal service provider who was picking up the
mailpieces to place them into the transportation containers
arranged according to postal categories. These known methods are
associated with the drawback that the mailer or the person picking
up the mail has to presort the mailpieces. This calls for a certain
amount of time for the mailer or for the person picking up the
mail.
[0035] In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, this
drawback is avoided in that the mailpieces are placed into the
transportation containers in a way that utilizes an essentially
coincidentally occurring presorting. This embodiment of the
invention takes advantage of the realization that many mailers
already stack up the mail by size in a sorted arrangement when they
are preparing the mailpieces for pick-up, for example, in order to
enhance their overview.
[0036] When the transportation containers are filled with the
mailpieces that are already presorted in this manner, it is
advantageous to first deposit the smaller mailpieces so that the
larger mailpieces come to lie on top of the smaller mailpieces.
[0037] However, it is likewise advantageous to conversely first
deposit the larger mailpieces so that the smaller mailpieces come
to lie on top since surprisingly, this, too, results in a partial
presorting of the mailpieces.
[0038] With other methods of depositing mail, it is also
advantageous to drop the mailpieces in a way that enhances such a
presorting.
[0039] In this manner, a resultant presorting process of the
mailpieces according to size is enhanced.
[0040] With numerous embodiments of the invention, it has been
found that at least some of the largest mailpieces tend to
accumulate in the upper part of the postal containers during the
processing procedures. This phenomenon is a self-organizing process
that enhances the presorting of mail and that has remained
unrecognized until now.
[0041] Advantageously, other embodiments of the invention also
utilize this mechanism of action.
[0042] Surprisingly, the partial presorting of the mailpieces that
is utilized according to the invention and that arises
coincidentally, but statistically reproducibly, also occurs when
the mailpieces are dropped into other mail drop boxes such as, for
example, mailboxes.
[0043] In an especially advantageous embodiment of the invention,
this occurs in that at least some of the transportation containers
are placed into mailboxes in such a way that mailpieces dropped
into the mailboxes end up directly in the transportation
containers.
[0044] However, it is equally advantageous that at least some of
the transportation containers are filled by emptying collecting
containers located in mailboxes.
[0045] The transportation containers filled with the
mailpieces--preferably as a function of their filling level--are
transported to additional mail drop boxes or to postal centers.
[0046] In a simple and advantageous embodiment of the invention, at
least some of the transportation containers are taken directly to
the unloading stations. In this manner, the structural requirements
for carrying out the method are further reduced.
[0047] It is especially advantageous to carry out the invention in
such a way that at least some of the transportation containers are
taken to the unloading stations by means of a conveyor section. As
a result, the feed of the mailpieces to the unloading stations can
be adapted to the unloading capacities.
[0048] Moreover, it is advantageous for the transportation
containers to be conveyed to the unloading means
intermittently.
[0049] The intermittent feed of the transportation containers is
advantageously carried out in such a way that, after a container
has been emptied, another container is automatically conveyed to
the unloading means. In this manner, the processing speed is
further increased.
[0050] In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the
transportation containers are conveyed to the unloading stations in
such a way that, at least at times, at least two transportation
containers are located in the area of an unloading station.
[0051] In this manner, the removal of the mailpieces from the
transportation containers can be sped up. In particular, this
embodiment of the invention allows the removal of mailpieces from a
transportation container during the change-over of another
transportation container.
[0052] In an especially advantageous embodiment of the invention,
stacks of mailpieces of different postal categories are first
removed from the transportation containers and, subsequently,
mailpieces of one postal category remaining in the transportation
containers are tipped out of the transportation container.
[0053] These process steps further increase the unloading speed. In
particular, this makes it possible to utilize the resulting
presorting of the mailpieces for the further simplification of the
unloading of the mailpieces. In particular, during the execution of
the method involving mailpieces of varying sizes, the
smaller-format mailpieces--especially standard format letters--tend
to accumulate in the bottom part of the transportation container.
In this manner, stacks of mailpieces of different--preferably
larger--postal categories can be removed first and subsequently,
the mailpieces remaining in the transportation containers after the
large mailpieces have been removed can be quickly removed by
tipping over the transportation container.
[0054] Moreover, it is advantageous that in at least some of the
unloading stations, stacks of mailpieces are recognized by at least
one optical detection means. In this way, the method can be further
sped up and automated.
[0055] Additional measures for speeding up and automating the
method are described below:
[0056] The mailpieces can fundamentally be detected by any suitable
detection, whereby product recognition systems, in particular
teachable product recognition systems, are especially
well-suited.
[0057] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, in at
least some of the unloading stations, the mailpieces are removed
from the transportation containers by a robot.
[0058] The use of one or more robots for the stackwise removal of
the mailpieces further increases the unloading speed.
[0059] The term "robot" is to be understood in the broadest sense
of the word as a programmable manipulator. In particular, this
means a reprogrammable multifunctional manipulator for executing
changeably programmable movement sequences as set forth in the
definition of the term "robot" according to The Robotics Institute
of America.
[0060] In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention,
mailpieces of at least one of the postal categories are fed to a
subsequent processing station by means of a conveyor belt. With
this embodiment of the invention, at least some of the mailpieces
that have been removed from the transportation containers can be
transported quickly to one or more of the processing stations
located downstream.
[0061] Moreover, it is advantageous to equip the unloading stations
in such a way that, below one or more transportation containers,
there is a--preferably additionally installed--conveyor belt.
Thanks to this conveyor belt, mailpieces that have been removed
from the transportation containers can be dropped directly onto
this conveyor belt, as a result of which they are automatically
carried away. This further increases the processing speed.
[0062] In terms of the devices, this is advantageously realized in
that the unloading station is configured in such a way that it has
a holding device for one or more transportation containers and that
two conveyor belts for conveying in different directions are
provided below the site where the transportation containers are
placed.
[0063] In this manner, mailpieces of a first postal category can be
removed directly from the transportation containers and dropped
directly above the suitable conveyor belt.
[0064] This is advantageously achieved in that a removal (i.e.
manipulation) arm reaches into the mail container, removes a stack
of mailpieces of the same postal category, drops them onto a
conveyor belt located in front of and/or below the transportation
containers and immediately thereafter reaches into the
transportation container again and systematically removes more
mailpieces of the same postal category.
[0065] Additional conveyor belts as well as additional
transportation containers can likewise be used to further transport
mailpieces of other postal categories.
[0066] Advantageously, different types of further transportation
are provided for mailpieces of different postal categories so that
the type of further transportation can be adapted to the number of
mailpieces of a given postal category.
[0067] Thus, for example, when the method is carried out with
mailpieces involving the postal categories of standard letters,
compact letters, large letters and oversize letters, it is
advantageous to convey machine-processable standard letters on one
conveyor belt, machine-processable large and oversize letters on
another conveyor belt and to drop the mailpieces of other postal
categories into other transportation containers.
[0068] Furthermore, it is advantageous to carry out at least a
partial singulation of the mailpieces on at least one of the
conveyor belts.
[0069] In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the
type of singulation is adapted to the postal category in question
and to the mailing volume.
[0070] Thus, for example, it is advantageous for letters of a
frequently occurring postal category--preferably
machine-processable standard letters'to be subjected to one or more
processing steps that promote their singulation while they are
being transported on the conveyor belt.
[0071] When the method is carried out with an especially high
mailing volume, the singulation steps yield an at least
approximately continuous mail flow when the mailpieces are placed
onto the conveyor belt essentially in stacks.
[0072] Mailpieces present in such a mail flow can be completely
singulated in various suitable ways. For example,
horizontal-vertical repositioning devices with a down-stream
fast-running separation section can be used for this purpose.
[0073] In the case of mailpieces located on other conveyor
belts--for example, for machine-processable compact and large
letters--it is advantageous to carry out a complete singulation on
the conveyor belt and to cancel the mailpieces during a pass on the
conveyor belt.
[0074] An especially advantageous embodiment of such a canceling
procedure is referred to below as rolling belt canceling.
[0075] In the rolling belt canceling procedure, the large and
oversize letters that are to be canceled can be fed on a rolling
belt. After being canceled, the oversize letters can then be taken
from the belt and placed into prepared containers. An especially
advantageous aspect is the possibility to adjust the speed of the
rolling canceling belt. The throughput increases due to the simple
activity of the rolling canceling (large and oversize) and of the
removal of the oversize letters. As a result, the processing speed
is increased as compared to manual sorting. Moreover, the mailpiece
does not have to be picked up or rotated individually in order to
be canceled.
[0076] Moreover, it is advantageous to carry out the method in such
a way that at least some of the mailpieces are canceled while they
are being transported on the conveyor belt.
[0077] This embodiment of the invention contributes to a further
acceleration of the method. Although carrying out the canceling is
fundamentally advantageous for all of the mailpieces that are
further transported on conveyer belts, it is especially
advantageous to carry out the canceling during the transportation
on the conveyor belt for mailpieces with a relatively small mailing
volume--for example, for large and oversize letters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0078] Additional advantages, special features and practical
refinements of the invention can be gleaned from the subordinate
claims and from the presentation below of preferred embodiments
making reference to the drawings.
[0079] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a device
that is suitable for carrying out the removal of the mailpieces and
their subsequent processing;
[0080] FIG. 2 illustrates a section through the device shown in
FIG. 1 along the line A-A;
[0081] FIG. 3 illustrates a section through the device shown in
FIG. 1 along the line B-B; and
[0082] FIG. 4 illustrates a section through the device shown in
FIG. 1 along the line C-C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0083] Below, the invention will be described with reference to
especially advantageous embodiments.
[0084] The described embodiments are especially advantageous since
they are suitable for the bulk processing of many mailpieces.
[0085] The representation is only to be understood by way of an
example and can be used in a plurality of methods for processing
mailpieces.
[0086] In particular, the described postal categories are only to
be understood by way of examples. The selected postal categories
can be adapted to the operational requirements in each case.
However, it is especially advantageous to use known postal
categories since then the method is compatible with other
processing steps for mailpieces.
[0087] The designations of the postal categories can correspond to
the postal categories used by the applicant as well as to other
operational requirements of postal centers.
[0088] Moreover, the invention can also be realized in a myriad of
structural ways.
[0089] In particular, the invention does not depend on a specific
embodiment of the sorting devices 110, 210, 310 of FIGS. 1-3,
separately.
[0090] Before the mailpieces are processed in the sorting devices
110, 210, 310, large numbers of mailpieces 100, 200, 300 that have
been dropped into mail drop boxes are collected and subsequently
transported in transportation containers 120, 220, 320 to postal
centers.
[0091] Advantageously, the transportation containers are
transported in the postal centers directly to the sorting devices
110, 210, 310.
[0092] In order to ensure that at least one transportation
container 120, 220, 320 filled with mailpieces is present in the
sorting devices 110, 210, 310 at each of unloading stations 130,
230, 330 during the processing of the mailpieces, it is
advantageous to transport the transportation containers 120, 220,
320 filled with the mailpieces 100, 200, 300 intermittently to the
unloading stations 130, 230, 330.
[0093] In an especially preferred embodiment, the transportation
containers 120, 220, 320 are transported by a conveyor section 140,
340.
[0094] The structure of the conveyor section is shown in FIG. 1 as
well as in FIG. 3.
[0095] Transportation containers 120, 320 filled with mailpieces
100, 300 are placed onto conveyor section 140, 340 in the area of
loading stations 105, 305.
[0096] The conveyor section 140, 340 contains suitable devices for
transporting the transportation containers 120, 320. The devices
(not shown here for the sake of clarity) are, for example, a
suitably driven conveyer belt or a roller conveyor with driven
rollers.
[0097] The conveyor section 140, 340 serves to transport the
transportation containers 120, 320 to the unloading stations 130,
330.
[0098] The transportation containers 120, 320 can be transported to
the unloading stations 130, 330 either directly or else via other
transportation means.
[0099] An integration of additional transportation means allows an
adaptation to different physical situations and thus considerable
space savings.
[0100] Such an especially substantial space savings is achieved in
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 in that a repositioning
device 135, 335 is located at the end of the conveyor section 140,
340 opposite from the loading station 105, 305.
[0101] The repositioning device 135, 335 allows a transfer of the
transportation containers 120, 320 to an additional conveyor
section 145.
[0102] In an especially preferred embodiment, an additional
conveyor section 145 extends essentially perpendicularly to the
first conveyor section 140.
[0103] The embodiment with a first conveyor section 140, 340 and a
second conveyor section 145 entails the advantage that the
subsequent removal of the mailpieces 100, 300 from the
transportation containers 120, 320 is largely uncoupled from the
feed of the transportation containers 120, 320.
[0104] This advantageous uncoupling is also retained when a
repositioning device 135, 335 is located between the first conveyor
section 140, 340 and the second conveyor section 145. However, the
repositioning device 135, 335 is associated with the additional
advantage that the transportation containers 120, 320 can be taken
to the unloading stations 130, 330 more quickly and with relatively
few structural requirements.
[0105] Details of the unloading stations 130, 230, 330 are shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
[0106] In particular, it is advantageous for two transportation
containers to be situated next to each other, at least at times, at
each of the unloading stations 130, 230, 330.
[0107] Advantageously, the transportation containers 120, 220, 320
are taken to the unloading stations 130, 230, 330 in such a way
that the transportation containers have an adjustable tilt angle of
preferably about 50.degree. to about 70.degree. with respect to the
horizontal.
[0108] In the area of the unloading stations 130, 230, 330, a
suitable product recognition system of the type known, for example,
from EP 0 685 814 B1, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference, is used to recognize stacks of mailpieces of
the same postal category. Immediately after the recognition of the
stack, or especially advantageously, essentially simultaneously
with the recognition of the stack of mailpieces of the same postal
category, a manipulation arm reaches into the transportation
container 120, 220, 320 that is located in the area of the
unloading station 130, 230, 330 and removes from the transportation
container 120, 220, 320 the previously recognized stack of
mailpieces 100, 200, 300 of the same postal category.
[0109] The manipulation arm is configured in different ways here.
An implementation example is disclosed in EP 0 251 441 B1.
[0110] Immediately after the removal of the stack of mailpieces,
the manipulation arm drops the stack of mailpieces 100, 200, 300
onto a conveyor belt that, if possible, is in the immediate
vicinity of the transportation container.
[0111] The conveyor belt conveys standard letters and compact
letters to another conveyor belt 170, 175, 250, 280, 350, 380.
[0112] Large letters are transported by another conveyor belt
located in the area of the unloading stations 130, 230, 330 to
another conveyor belt 150, 160 for the conveyance of large
letters.
[0113] At a mail volume of about 30,000 to 42,000 mailpieces per
hour--of which about 30,000 to 36,000 are standard or compact
letters and, for the rest, large or oversize letters--for large
letters as well as two conveyor belts for standard letters, a
singulation already occurs for the large letters through the
selection of the conveying speed of the conveyor belts.
[0114] An additional singulation is carried out for standard
letters and compact letters during the transportation on the
conveyor belts 170, 175, 250, 280, 350, 380.
[0115] In order to further accelerate the method and to save more
space, it is advantageous that an outgoing conveyor section 290,
390 is arranged underneath the conveyor section 140, 340 and/or
underneath the conveyor belts 170, 175, 250 in order to return the
emptied transportation containers 120, 220, 320.
[0116] For purposes of achieving a rapid further transportation of
the mailpieces that have been processed in the area of the sorting
device 110, 210, 310, it is advantageous to provide a means for
automatically feeding additional transportation containers 195,
395.
[0117] In an especially preferred embodiment, the feed device for
additional transportation containers 195, 395 is configured in such
a way that the additional transportation containers 195, 395 are
arranged directly underneath the end of conveyor belts 150, 160
that are transporting processed mailpieces.
[0118] In an especially advantageous embodiment, the mailpieces
slide directly via a chute 198 into the additional transportation
container 195.
[0119] Although the additional transportation containers 195, 395
can have the same dimensions as the transportation containers 120,
220, 320 for the transport of the unsorted mailpieces, it is
especially advantageous to configure the additional transportation
containers 195, 395 with smaller dimensions--especially with a
smaller footprint.
[0120] In an especially preferred embodiment, the additional
transportation containers 195, 395 have dimensions that are
slightly larger than the maximum size of the mailpieces being
transported on the conveyor belts 150, 160.
[0121] In this manner, an orientation of the mailpieces that was
achieved during the transfer of the mailpieces to the conveyor
belts 150, 160 can be retained.
[0122] An especially advantageous configuration of the feed means
for the additional transportation containers 195, 395 is configured
in such a way that, at least over certain sections, the
transportation containers 195, 395 are transported parallel to the
conveyor belts 150, 160.
[0123] In an especially advantageous embodiment, this is done in
that, at least over certain sections, the conveying means for the
additional transportation containers 195, 395 are located parallel
to the conveyor belts 150, 160 for the mailpieces that are to be
put into the additional transportation containers 195, 395.
[0124] An especially advantageous configuration of this is
characterized in that the conveying means is configured as a
conveyor section 199, 399.
[0125] In an especially preferred embodiment, the conveyor section
199, 399, which preferably extends parallel to the conveyor belts
150, 160 and advantageously in the same direction but at a much
lower transportation speed, is arranged directly below a conveyor
belt 150, 160.
[0126] In this manner, the mailpieces conveyed on the conveyor belt
150, 160 can reach the additional transportation containers 195,
395 directly, for example, via a chute 198.
[0127] Such a further transport of the mailpieces into the
additional transportation containers 195, 395 calls for very little
processing effort and is also very space-saving so as to allow the
feeding of the additional transportation containers 195, 395 to be
well integrated into the sorting devices.
[0128] Moreover, this also reduces the space requirement for the
further transport of the additional transportation containers 195,
395 as well as the required storage space for additional
transportation containers 195, 395 to be fed.
[0129] In the manner presented, the described sorting device can be
integrated into existing postal centers.
[0130] In the postal centers, standard letters are canceled in
automatic canceling machines. Address reading machines read the
address and encode the mailpiece. In fine sorting machines, the
letter is sorted in terms of the individual deliverer, parcel
compartment systems/large customers, and then the mail volume
intended for the deliverer is sorted so as to correspond to the
delivery sequence (street number by street number) in the delivery
sequence sorting machines. The machine throughput rate is, for
example, 36,000 mailpieces per hour=10 letters per second.
[0131] This throughput rate relates to the number of standard
mailpieces processed with the sorting device. Moreover, mail of
additional postal categories can be present among the processed
mailpieces, but the above-described process steps subject these
mailpieces to a different processing operation than the standard
letters.
[0132] In particular, it is advantageous to subject so-called
machine-processable mailpieces to different processing steps than
other mailpieces. The machine-processable mailpieces are especially
standard letters. In particular, mailpieces that are flexible and
that have standard dimensions are processed here. Mailpieces that
are stiff or that have inflexible inserts and/or thickened edges on
one side, or rounded edges or other deviations from standardized
dimensions are fed to special processing means by the depicted
sorting devices.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0133] 100 mailpieces
[0134] 105 loading station
[0135] 110 sorting device
[0136] 120 transportation container
[0137] 130 unloading stations
[0138] 140 conveyor section
[0139] 145 conveyor section
[0140] 150 conveyor belt
[0141] 160 conveyor belt
[0142] 170 conveyor belt
[0143] 175 conveyor belt
[0144] 195 additional transportation container
[0145] 198 chute
[0146] 199 conveyor section
[0147] 200 mailpieces
[0148] 210 sorting device
[0149] 220 transportation container
[0150] 230 unloading stations
[0151] 250 conveyor belt
[0152] 290 outgoing conveyor section
[0153] 300 mailpieces
[0154] 305 loading station
[0155] 310 sorting device
[0156] 320 transportation container
[0157] 330 unloading stations
[0158] 340 conveyor section
[0159] 390 outgoing conveyor section
[0160] 395 additional transportation container
[0161] 399 conveyor section
* * * * *